230 kV & 525 kV Transmission Lines


Two transmission lines (double-circuit 230 kV and single-circuit 525 kV) are near a Medical Building and Hospital in Northern Virginia. The 230 kV lines (double-bundle) are only 80-100 feet from the Medical Building while the 525 kV lines (triple-bundle) are 200-240 feet. Behind the Medical Building is the emergency room and hospital (not shown in picture).

The Profile Plot (see below) shows a 15.4 mG peak under the 525 kV center conductor and a 12.5 mG peak beneath the outer 230 kV circuit (the other 230 kV circuit appears to be de-energized). Magnetic field levels were between 2-6 mG inside the Medical Building and less than 1 mG inside the hospital. The outside temperature was 94.5 degrees (F) when the survey was performed. It should be noted that during seasonal peak loads the magnetic field levels could easily double or triple since these are high current transmission lines. Therefore, the levels within the Medical Building could increase to between 6-18 mG under worst-case conditions.

Magnetic Field Management Solution:

Install a Passive Wire Magnetic Field Cancellation System around the transmission line right-of-way (ROW) to (mitigate) reduce the magnetic fields inside the Medical Building and Hospital to less than 2 mG and 1 mG, respectively.